Eat & Drink

Now’s the time to support Melbourne’s hospitality industry, whether you’re up for a hearty breakfast or a cheeky nightcap. Eat, drink and make merry in the sunniest of seasons.

Stay and build an entire staycation around the city’s finest restaurants and thriving bars. Just remember to plan ahead – it’s a good idea to book so you know you’ll get a table.

Aru

Sunda’s Khanh Nguyen has expanded his ground-breaking empire with the opening of this moody eatery where share plates combine Southeast Asian flavours and native Australian ingredients. Book a banquette opposite the 16-metre-long open kitchen. +aru.net.au

Big Esso

Get a taste of Indigenous flavours at Nornie Bero’s latest restaurant – the name means ‘the biggest thank you’ in the Torres Strait, from where she hails. Order from a menu that includes dishes like namas (coconutcured kingfish) and chilli blue swimmer crabs. +mabumabu.com.au/dining

Dessous

Located below sister-venue Hazel, this subterranean bar was made for late nights. Classic cocktails are given modern twists, while the wine list focuses on sustainable and biodynamic drops from lesser-known regions, like Henty in Victoria. Keep the night going with some great snacks. +dessous.com.au

Pétanque Social

Its position on the Yarra and views of the city opposite make this outdoor venue the place to be on hot summer evenings. With a European countryside fit-out and menu of loved Melbourne dishes, it’s sure to attract the in-crowd. +crownmelbourne.com.au

Farmer’s Daughters

Alejandro Saravia’s three-storey venue is a love letter to Gippsland, and showcases the region’s fresh produce and fine wines. There’s a casual eatery on the ground floor, a restaurant serving set course menus one level up, and a rooftop ‘greenhouse’ bar. +farmersdaughters.com.au

Lulu’s Char Koay Teow

What once was a hawker stall is now a convivial standalone restaurant. Owner Chee Wong serves seven versions of the famous Malaysian stir-fried rice noodle dish, including one featuring blood cockles. There’s laksa, too. +facebook.com/

lulucktmelbourne

Pétanque Social

Tennis For Days

Australian Open Tennis Australia Natasha Morello

The Australian Open is back, bringing with it 14 days of smashing sport, food and fun to Melbourne Park.

Each year, the organisers of the first grand slam tournament of the year up the stakes, making the Australian Open as much about excellent entertainment and fine food as it is about seeing the greatest players in the world on court. The 2022 event (17–30 January) celebrates every part of its home city, as Melbourne comes to play.

Seaside Summer

Courtside – well, to Garden Square, the Western Courts and Show Court 3 – becomes seaside to celebrate everything amazing about bayside Melbourne. Relax near the beach boxes, cool off under a shady umbrella and enjoy fresh summer fare from Mr Miyagi and Big Esso. This zone will also include the AO Beach House, where you can feel the sand beneath your toes. There’s a beach tennis court, a morning health program with yoga and wellness classes, and a big screen to watch all the action. Oh, and lots of cool drinks to parch a thirst.

The Big Oval

At Grand Slam Oval, it’s all about the laneways, with street art and buskers keeping the crowds amused. This is also where you’ll come to taste the

Ben Shewry Colin Page

AO Beach House

Family Fun Zone Tennis Australia

Tipo 00 Ain Raadik

city’s finest flavours, with some of the CBD’s favourite chefs and restaurants bringing their fare to spectators. There’ll be a huge choice of casual dishes spanning cuisines – burgers, Italian favourites and hawker market classics – prepared by the likes of Andreas Papadakis, Scott Pickett, Jenna Louise North and Matt McConnell.

Tables of Plenty

In an Australian Open first, one of Australia’s most renowned chefs, Ben Shewry, brings his Attica flavours to the lush riverside venue, Atrium Eatery & Bar. Cocktails shaken using native botanicals and dishes created with Locally sourced, sustainable, produce driven ingredients make up the menu. Even while you’re watching the action, why not treat you and your friends? At a fully catered Superbox, chefs from either Maha or Nobu will serve up a grazing menu to enjoy with matched drinks throughout the match.

Child’s Play

If the kids are keen, there’s plenty to keep them entertained too, with a 5,000 square metre family fun zone. There’ll be a playground, of course, but also tours, entertainment and hands-on activities. If they’re keen to get their hands on a racquet, this is also where they can take a swing at ANZ Hot Shots.

+ausopen.com

Not Breakfast, Not Lunch

It’s something Melburnians take very seriously, so it should come as no surprise that there’s a whole range of brunch options available right across the city. Of course, you can simply get up late and head to a favourite cafe for coffee and your favourite dishes, whether they involve eggs, avocados or an altogether more exotic option (Higher Ground’s spanner crab benedict is a favourite). Or you could seek out something more fun and make the weekend just a little more special. Whether you make plans for afterwards or head back to bed for a nap is completely up to you.

Each weekend, Evie’s Bar & Diner in Fitzroy hosts a bottomless brunch. The fun, sparkly atmosphere is the perfect way to start (or end) the weekend. There are a number of dishes to choose from, including some vegan options, plus two drinks

Higher Ground Rebecca Newman

Evie’s Bar & Diner Melbourne – Eat & Drink

packages: Basic gets you two hours of unlimited mimosas, sparkling wine, beer or cider, while the Baller is all that plus espresso martinis and Aperol spritzes.

You’ve got a choice at Prahran’s The Smith. On Saturday, the venue hosts Gospel Brunch, while it moves to the other end of the entertainment spectrum on Sunday with Drag Brunch. Think bottomless drinks and the choice of dishes, including lobster and prawn rolls and berry hotcakes.

You might not necessarily equate Mexican food with brunch, but Bodega Underground takes it up a notch. From Friday to Sunday, with three sittings each day (including the sleep-in friendly time of 3.15pm), it serves up five dishes – elote, tacos and churros included – as well as bottomless Mexican drinks. There’s the Mexi-Mimosa, which blends prosecco and guava, micheladas (a salty, spicy, tomatoey beer), classic palomas and batangas consisting of tequila, cola and lime with a salt rim. There’s a vegan menu, too. +darlinggroup.com.au +evies.net.au +thesmithprahran.com.au +bodegaunderground.com.au

Craft Shop